HOUSTON -- On the day before a critical national and countywide election, volunteers for both Democrats and Republicans are busy making sure they get their voters to the polls, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

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At the Obama headquarters in northeast Houston, volunteers spent the day making phone calls into several key battleground states to urge people to vote for Sen. Barack Obama for president.

"The majority of responses are positive," said volunteer Cheryl Sheffield, "People are ready for a change in America.

Local Republicans are also busy making their final push.

Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack purchased more than 1,000 toilet plungers to hand out to voters to honor "Joe the Plumber," who has become a campaign sensation for Sen. John McCain's bid for the White House.

"We are going to send a message, and that message is conservative candidates will be elected," said Radack.

While the race for the White House is getting most of the attention, locally, voters will chose a favorite in the race for district attorney, county judge, sheriff and a host of civil and criminal court judges.

For the first time in years, Harris County Democrats feel optimistic that they can sweep control of county government.

"The smell of victory is in the air," said Gerry Birnberg, the chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party.

But Harris County Republican Chairman Jared Woodfill said the party is working around the clock by calling voters and block walking in neighborhoods to reach out to independent voters and those who did not cast their ballot during early voting.